If you don’t mind veering off the beaten path a little, we have some ideas. We dispatched Kansas City Star writers in every direction to find some of the odder attractions in Missouri and Kansas. Some of these places might not be your final destination, but then again, if you like quirky, they could be. And several are right here in the Kansas City area.

The goaltender who helped Team USA pull off its "Miracle on Ice" and vanquish the Soviet hockey powerhouse in the 1980 Winter Olympics is cleaning house and auctioning off his gold medal, game jerseys and other many other items.